2 February 2017

1. Sand. If you’ve lived in the region for a while you know that sand gets into everything. It’s just a matter of when and where. No matter how well you store your goods, you can be fairly sure that there will be a fine – or thick – coat of sand layering everything. The Box ensures that your items are properly stored and sand free.

2. Heat. It comes with the package when you live in this part of the world and it can seriously affect or even damage your things. Round-the-clock AC at your residence is impractical and expensive and you still can’t keep an eye on things all the time. However, The Box can. Climate control, regular ‘patrols’ and a variety of packages will keep things cool.

3. Room. How much control do you have over what’s stored with your goods, and how much space you have to store them in? The only thing worse than no room, is just enough to keep your goods with no room to access them properly. That and getting them mixed up with someone else’s. Get your own dedicated room, which we can help you organize for easy access.

4. Security. This is a big one. Whether it’s expensive items or things of sentimental value, you have a right to keep what’s yours. Rest assured that we’ve got 24/7 security, which includes highly trained personnel as well as surveillance technology. Always keep this as a high priority when considering your storage options.

5. Smiles. Never underestimate the power of a friendly face, attentive service and sincere partnerships. We’re really serious about chilling out, and we’re happy to do it with you, while we’re helping you take care of business.

2 January 2017

We're starting off the year with a new way to think about The Box and your storage solutions.

1. Think outside The Box - we've got a range of products that you can buy through our online store or on site at our offices, that can make life at home a lot easier. If you're not in need of our storage facilities just yet, then consider taking home some of our purpose-built containers for daily use and home organisation. It might be transparent containers for your hobbies or home business, or to accommodate a makeover and decluttering, check it out and see what you find. Sometimes those daily logistical issues can be solved with simple fixes, and a little thought.

2. Think inside The Box - if you own a small business, The Box is very much in your corner. Whether it's order fulfilment, warehousing or a comfortable place to work from your laptop over coffee, you can do that with us. We're a clever way to optimise budgets and make things a little more efficient. Don't think your business is too small, or large, to work with us. We've got quite a few very happy customers who can testify to how we work.

3. Make the move - don't let the fear of the unexpected stop you from moving to your dream home, establishing that second one, or finally starting your business. Ventures like these can be expensive, so saving wherever possible really matters. That's our specialty. If we can help students store their stuff during holiday breaks, you will appreciate our attractive pricing during your big initiative. It's possible, and we can help make it happen.

4. Make the call - give us a call and tell us what your needs are. We'll figure out exactly what packages, storage solutions, containers or services will get your started or keep you going. Consider us your first step to fulfilling your resolutions. And don't worry, we'll be here with you all year long.

Let this be the year you think and act your vision to life, one day at a time.

7 December 2016

With all the excitement of the season, there are those little (or big) things, which turn up every year that we often don’t think about until they’re here. Get a jump on 5 of them with these helpful tips:

1. Turkey/Ham. We’re normally eating one of these things well into the New Year. But they should be stored quickly and properly once the festivities are over. Chop up the meat into smaller pieces (several small freezer bags for easier storage) and store the bones separately. Freeze the meat that won’t be used immediately and make stock with the bones. Done! This is safer as it prevents food poisoning and lets you be a bit more creative with your leftover dishes.

2. Donations. It’s a giving time of year so pack up unwanted gifts, older clothes etc. and prepare them to be donated to someone who really needs them. Not only do you make someone else’s day brighter, but also lessen the risk of giving unwanted gifts back to the giver. Recycle used gift boxes and wrapping paper for a special touch.

3. Decorations. Wrap string lights around hangers, put baubles in empty egg cartons and wrap your synthetic Christmas tree in plastic. It will also help to put all these odds and ends in clear storage boxes so you know exactly what’s inside.

4. Guests. No you can’t store guests, but you can make life a bit easier for them if you get items like suitcase racks (the kind you find in hotels), a simple folding screen (to divide smaller apartments and create privacy) and a portable clothing rack. These simple additions can actually make your guests’ stay more comfortable and your home a little less cluttered.

5. Sales. An odd one? Not quite. If you want to stock up and store Christmas items for next year, the best time to buy them is right after the season is over. Buy greeting card sets and other décor and be prepared.

Naturally at The Box we’re happy to do our part. Store all your seasonal items with us, and find useful tools like portable clothing racks, storage boxes and more to help you be organized in your own home as well as in ours.

Season’s Greetings and best wishes for 2017 from all of us at The Box!

2 November 2016

Much of the world does ‘Spring Cleaning’ after being sealed in for winter. For Dubai, winter is when we emerge from our cozy air-conditioned cocoons no longer needing to run from summer’s wrath.

Now that we can leave the windows open, actually use the outdoor furniture and get natural air circulating in our homes – it’s time for the conquest of cleaning!

Here’s the step-by-step strategy to guarantee victory:

1. Clean
Clean while you can. A moist A/C environment can create mold – so check behind sofas, under beds, in bathrooms & kitchens and even inside your A/C units for the sneaky fungus. Mold is destructive and can seriously affect your respiratory health. Plus, dust gathers easily in closed environments, so shake out those carpets and duvets and do a thorough vacuuming.

2. Throw…or donate
Since you’re moving furniture and digging through your belongings, it’s a good time to get rid of things you just don’t need or that are unusable. The less you have, the less you waste. Donate to the needy, give away to neighbors and have a second-hand sale. Decide what’s worth keeping and what needs to go.

3. Protect
Now it’s pleasant to go outside it’s the ideal time to protect outdoor furniture in preparation for next summer. Consider stain or varnish for wood, wax for metal and oil for wicker. Fabrics with lighter colors and synthetic mixes do better outdoors.

4. Store
There may be items you want to keep, but don’t need at the moment. The Box will take them off your hands. This means a specialized environment with no need to worry about mold, clutter or weather damage. Start thinking ahead to summer and consider storing away outdoor furniture rather than leaving it to the elements – this extends their life and means not having to spend to replace or refurbish them.

5. Decorate
For those who enjoy participating in the festive season – now’s a good time to start showing the Christmas spirit. So get out the decorations and start ‘decking the halls’. That is if you have all your seasonal décor already. If you don’t – well that’s a subject for another post!

However, if you want more tips and info right now, there’s always our Pinterest page, which has loads of helpful categories including moving with pets, kitchen organization and food storage just to name a few. Check it out.

10 October 2016

Every startups challenge
Indra discovered something very quickly: there was only one of him. But that didn’t change the fact that he had to either do, or monitor the doing, of every aspect of his business.

He has to take, pack, double-check and dispatch all orders of his small tech company. On top of all that, there was stocktaking, new inventory to acquire, buying patterns to analyze and more. Much more.

We haven’t mentioned the coordination of courier and warehouse – and that is only after the third warehousing company.

Indra is every small business owner. And even if he hires on help – there’s still only one of him.

True stories of fulfillment
At The Box, we act like a partner to businesses just like Indra’s. Our main service is self-storage, but our passion is helping people. So while we store your inventory, we also become the manpower you wish you had.

Along with ensuring your goods in storage correspond with what’s on paper,
we provide an essential service in 3 simple steps:

1. You email us your daily orders
2. We pack and prepare items for courier
3. We send monthly reports to help you keep track of orders and inventory

In practice, we’re your business’s order fulfillment department, and we’re helping our startup clients in just this way, everyday.

To recap, by now you'd have loaded up on packing supplies - something The Box has in abundance, and it should be noted, specialized supplies fit for purpose like boxes that store clothes on hangers or document containers.

You have done your real estate research and found your new accommodation, mapped out the rooms and put all your vital essentials in one easily accessible box.

The movers are good to go and the family can’t wait to get settled. So what’s next?

Tie up loose ends at the old location – Once everything is moved out, go through the old house and check cupboards, closets or any other place one could forget smaller items, and check if there’s any damage for which you could be liable. Pay off all utility bills and/or apply for a change of status with your energy suppliers. This may vary from place to place but the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), for example, allows you to do quite a few transactions online.

Double-check the new tenancy contract – It’s too late to change anything, but go over it just to make sure you’re clear on all terms and conditions and know all the obligations for tenant and landlord.

Check utilities - Don’t get sideswiped by bills from the previous tenants or owners. Make sure all bills are cleared and that everything is in working order. Also check with cable and Internet providers if they supply service readily to your new area. This is particularly relevant for remote locations and new builds.

Inform security - If you live in a gated community or apartment complex, make sure security personnel know who your movers are and when they’re arriving. If movers show up without proper clearance there could be a long delay or they could get turned back altogether. Also make sure you’re movers know exactly where to go and that there’s parking available. It’s always best if you or someone you trust is present.

Have a floor plan and checklist - Done best before the move, you must have a floor plan on hand so you can easily direct the movers where to put what. A floor plan, especially one done to scale, can save on time and unwanted surprises. Moving day is not when you want to discover that sofa is too big for the den. Your checklist is self-explanatory – ensure all your goods arrive and in good shape.

Meet the neighbors - It’s not just polite, it’s practical. From deliveries, to babysitting or emergencies it’s neighbors can be lifesavers, plus it’s always good to meet the people who make up your new community, and aim to establish contact from early on.

Warm up the house – Now it’s all done, invite over friends and family and have a good time!

1 August 2016

This is the second in a series of moving and storage tips, the first you can see here - a run-down of pre-moving tips when relocating domestically. This list is for those considering a move to another country, and the UAE in particular.

The UAE is a transient place, people come and go, some stay while others never quite adjust and call it quits early into their sojourn. That aside, the country and its cities (primarily Abu Dhabi and Dubai) continue to attract increasing interest and curiosity, which often leads to folks deciding to jump right into desert living. If you're soon to be one of the nomads, consider the following:

1. Don't bring everything...yet. Before you ship all your belongings over land and sea, determine whether your new country really is the place for you and your family. Give it a couple months if necessary, but don't underestimate the cultural shift that takes place under these circumstances. It's a change in language, work culture, schooling, weather and more - so if you need to keep your belongings back home in storage until you're sure of this new land, it might just be worth it. We provide services in several countries across the globe, so explore the site to see if we can help where you are.

2. Stay in a furnished hotel apartment. That's the next consideration. Where can you stay temporarily without any of your belongings on hand? Serviced hotel apartments are common in the UAE and usually fairly affordable. Many employers will put you up for a limited time, but a hotel apartment is a reasonable longer term option, while you adjust to the new surroundings and look for a new place. Plus, you can rent them month-to-month and leave when you're ready with no long term contractual obligations.

3. Never appear desperate or hasty in looking for accommodation. You want to feel settled - totally understandable - but rushing into a new place could mean paying significantly more than the market rate or ending up with less than ideal leasing conditions. Tenancy contracts can vary greatly depending on your landlord, so due diligence is paramount to finding value for money, not to mention a manageable commute to work and/or school. So even if you are desperate, don't let on, play it cool and give yourself as much time to search as possible.

4. Research the real estate market. This is easier said than done, especially in a country you know nothing about. Visit local listing sites or the official industry regulatory body. Dubai's Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) makes it easier to research accommodation costs by providing the market rate for property across the city. Still, costs and leasing terms can vary widely so the more research you can do the better.

5. If you bring your belongings, you can still store them. If you are hard-pressed and simply need to make a quick move, you can still store your furniture in the new country till you find accommodation. We can definitely help with that. We've got a range of affordable options regarding size and function of storage, so you have choices open to you, including the next point.

6. Have a moving service ready on the ground. Once you've found a place and it’s time to set it up, we can also help. We can store your belongings, move them in and even set up your new home. Our services give you the option of doing it yourself or letting us do it all for you. Let us know your preference and we'll take care of the rest.

Bonus point:
While you can hire agents to do a lot of the immigration legwork for you, and some employers take care of this paperwork, you might find you have to do some of it yourself. Note that much of the essentials (like activating utilities, Internet, mobile plans etc) cannot be done without:
1. A national ID card
2. A local credit card
3. A tenancy contract (which includes getting something called an ejari contract in Dubai).

Get things done in the proper order and it will help the rest to go a little smoother.

Contact us for all your storage and moving requirements: 800-THEBOX / help@theboxme.com